"The Experience of Dementia as a Journey"

I am going on a long journey by train. As I begin, the city skyscrapers and country landscape look familiar. As I continue my journey, the view reminds me of times gone by and I feel relaxed and comfortable. The other passengers on the train appear to be feeling the same way and I engage in pleasant conversation with them.

As the journey progresses, things begin to look different. The buildings have odd shapes and the trees don't look quite the way I remember them. I know that they are buildings and trees, but something about them is not quite right. Maybe I'm in a different country with different architecture and plant life. It feels a bit strange, even unnerving.

I decide to ask the other passengers about the strangeness I feel, but I notice that they seem unperturbed. They are barely taking notice of the passing scenery. Maybe they have been here before. I ask some questions but nothing seems different to them. I wonder if my mind is playing tricks on me. I decide to act as if everything looks all right, but because it does not, I have to be on my guard. This places some tension on me, but I believe I can tolerate it for the remainder of the trip. I do, however, find myself becoming so preoccupied with appearing all right that my attention is diverted from the passing scenery.

After some time I look out the window again, and this time I know that something is wrong. Everything looks strange and unfamiliar! There is no similarity to anything I can recall from my past. I must do something. I talk to the other passengers about the strangeness I feel. They look dumbfounded and when they answer, they talk in new language. Why won't they talk in English I wonder? They look at me knowingly and with sympathy. I've got to get to the bottom of this, so I keep after them to tell me where the train is and where it is going. The only answers I get are in this strange language, and even when I talk, my words sound strange to me. Now I am truly frightened.

At this point I figure that I have to get off this train and find my way home. I had not bargained for this when I started. I get up to leave and bid a pleasure good-bye. I don't get very far, though, as the other passengers stop me and take me back to my seat. It seems they want me to stay on the train whether I want to or not. I try to explain, but they just talk in that strange language.

Outside the window the scenery is getting even more frightening. Strange, inhuman-looking being peer into the window at me. I decide to make a run for it. The other passengers are not paying much attention to me, so I slip out of my seat and quietly walk toward the back of the car. There's the door! It is difficult to push, but I must. It begins to open and I push harder. Maybe now I will get away. Even though it looks pretty strange out there, I know I will never find my way home if I do not get off the train. I am just ready to jump when hands suddenly appear from nowhere and grab me from behind. I try to get away. I try to fight them off, but I can feel them pulling me back to my seat. I realize now that I will never get off this train; I will never get home.

How sad I feel. I did not say good-bye to my friends and children. As far as I know they do not know where I am. The passengers look sympathetic, but they do not know how sad I feel. Maybe if they knew they would let me off the train. I stop smiling, stop eating, stop trying to talk and avoid looking out the window. The passengers look worried They force me to eat. It is difficult because I am too sad to be hungry.

I have no choice now. I have to go along with the passengers because they seem to know where the journey will end. Maybe they will get me there safely. I fervently wish that I had never started out on this journey, but I know I cannot go back.
Author unknown

Please share in the comment section,
How did this journey make you feel?
Why do you think you feel/think this way?
What have you learned from your training that can change the outcome or ending to this journey?
How can you and your trainees MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Did you consider each GEM level as you read through the journey?

After reading this "journey" I have never forgotten it,... please share your thoughts.

The Joy in the Little Things

Joy can come in so many small ways, think outside of the box.

Do you have beautiful memories of raising children or just enjoying the presence of a little one around? 

Do you recall times of play while growing up, what did you enjoy? 

Can we bring these joyful times back to the lives of those living with dementia...why not!

The Gift of Music

The gift of music
http://teepasnow.com/resources/teepa-tips-videos/music/


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKDXuCE7LeQ

MUSIC, never underestimate this beautiful gift!

Alive Inside- Dan Cohan

Link to the movie

https://genvideos.org/watch?v=Alive_Inside_2014#video=unNNqM-XyOPwAnjDnxpSR-mDKhuYszYOCotUG9oPJ6s

Tools

Do you know where your tools are?
Are you using your tools?
Do you know where to find your tools?

When I think about tools, I think about a workshop. Not a training workshop per say but a garage workshop. 
I recall seeing a few workshops growing up on a farm. My dad was a "jack of all trades" as most farmers are. He had a great workshop. Of course he kept it fairly tidy and knew where everything was. How did he do this?
Well his workshop was something he valued, some where he spent a lot of time and energy, fixing cars or farm machinery. If he needed a tool he knew where it was and that's because he took note of where he left it. This saved him time and energy and frustration looking for it when he needed it. 

Are we familiar with our workshop?
Do we spend the time to go to posapproach.com or teepasnow.com and look under all the tabs and know where our tools are? 
Have we read our manual that was given to us on our training day? Do we know what's in there, or have we just tossed it aside since we became certified?
Are we reviewing our videos to become more practiced with our material and keeping up with our skills?

How does a mechanic fix a car properly if he has no tools or doesn't know where they are when he needs them?

So I ask you this, how do we present a workshop well, if we don't use our tools or even know where they are? 

I have compared other garages with my dad's and WOW, there is stuff all over the place. How does this change the ability for someone to have something "fixed" in a timely manner?

Our tools are there, let's get familiar to where they are and how we can use them so that when we need them we know right where they are.

Ready, Set, Learn! Recommended Products for Personal and Professional Growth

Ready, Set, Learn! Recommended Products for Personal and Professional Growth

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Please share out with your networks - Connect with us on :

Online Dementia Journal - January 2016

Hi Trainers!  Happy New Year!

The January 2016 Online Dementia Journal is out!  Please share this with your networks.  We also encourage you to connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+ to share on social media sites as well.

If you have specific question regarding the Journal or would like some assistance connecting with us on social media, please email Corrie or contact her by phone at 404-277-4205.

Thanks!

Recertification

As we begin the new calendar year what are our goals as PAC Certified Trainers?

How do we keep our skills up and keep going forward with our training events?
How are we meeting our continuing education requirements for our re-certification?

As PAC Trainers we worked with our mentors to work through our first workshop and start getting familiar with learning the AELC to become Proficient Trainers to obtain our certification. 

We have a year to continue planning, working and presenting our workshops before we come to re-certification time. What is expected of us? What are our requirements to remain certified? 

Yes, we have accountability.

To find the criteria you can go to posapproach.com and log in. Look under the Trainer Recertification tab. 

 Trainer Recertification Criteria

A Proficient Trainer will be able to meet the following criteria:

• Explain steps of Positive Physical Approach (PPA) and Hand-under-Hand (HuH).
• Demonstrate steps of Positive Physical Approach (PPA) and Hand-under-Hand (HuH).
• Demonstrate in workshop planning and throughout the workshop itself the Adult Experiential Learning Cycle (AELC) for each learning objective.
• Explain basic knowledge of dementia and its symptoms:
  • Primitive Brain/Thinking Brain
  • Umbrella concept, Delirium, Depression
  • Four truths about Dementia
• Demonstrate organizational skills
• Use PAC materials as a guide and use questions rather than statements during training sessions.
• Identify ways to meet the needs of different personality traits and learning styles and why it is important
• Facilitate practice and support with learners

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Steps to Completion

Step 1 -  Pay $150(U.S.) Recertification fee

This is a non refundable payment and does not guarantee recertification status. This fee covers the necessary PAC Mentor support and administrative costs.

Step 2 – View the Video Message from TeepaStep 3 – Review the Trainer and Skills CriteriaStep 4 - Submit 3 videos to be reviewed in collaboration with a PAC Coach. These videos include:

- Video demonstrating the use of Positive Physical Approach (PPA) (Approximately 1 minute in length)

- Video demonstrating the use of the Hand-under-Hand(HuH) technique (Approximately 1 minute in length)

- Video that demonstrates your ability to train learners on at least one of the following topics (20-25 minutes in length):

- Workshop A - Normal/Not Normal Aging

- Workshop B - Positive Physical Approach and Hand-under-Hand

- Workshop C - Teepa’s GEMS

Step 5 - Complete the self-assessment

Step 6 - Submit three participant feedback surveys from one or more workshops conducted in the last 12 months

Step 7 - Review and sign the PAC Trainer Agreement

Step 8 - Complete the Checklist Verification

• Edit

Step 2 - View a message from Teepa

Thank you for making the commitment to move forward in your personal and professional growth through the PAC Approved Trainer Certification. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by dementia!

Step 3 - Review the Trainer and Skills Criteria

PAC Approved Trainers are qualified to train others in Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach^TM to Care philosophy, providing dementia related awareness, knowledge, and skill development in a classroom, community, or support group setting. PAC Approved Trainers are authorized to use PAC materials covering the following topics:

• Normal Aging/Not Normal Aging
• Positive Physical Approach™ and Hand-under-Hand™
• Teepa's GEMS™

Please download and print the PAC Trainer Criteria and PAC Skills Criteria for review.  Your workshop video will be reviewed by a PAC Mentor with this criteria in mind.

Edit

Step 4 - Submit your videos for review

Upon receipt of your videos, a PAC Mentor will contact you to discuss your current skill level and provide suggestions for continued development.  

Requirements:

- Video demonstrating the use of Positive Physical Approach (PPA) (Approximately 1 minute in length)

- Video demonstrating the use of the Hand-under-Hand (HuH) technique (Approximately 1 minute in length)

- Video that demonstrates your ability to train learners on at least one of the following topics (20-25 minutes in length):

- Workshop A - Normal/Not Normal Aging

- Workshop B - Positive Physical Approach and Hand-under-Hand

- Workshop C - Teepa’s GEMS

Please email techadmin@teepasnow.com with any technical related questions and include details in the body of your message.

So let's keep this all in mind as we present our workshops throughout the year and approach our re-certification date. 

How can we keep reflecting and working toward another year ahead?

What are we doing to continuously improve ourselves, our skills and our abilities as trainers? 

What have we learned from our previous workshop experiences and how can we use these learning opportunities in our future workshops?

Please share your thoughts on how you plan to keep track of your ideas, thoughts, happenings throughout your year.

Let's share with each other some "quality assurance" skills that we can all use to improve and stay better in tune with where we are at and where we are going and where we want to be.